Sacred Space Etiquette

The basic idea of how we should behave in Church is summed up by the Second Council of Lyons, A.D. 1274:

It is fitting that He whose abode has been established in peace should be worshiped in peace and with due reverence. Churches, then, should be entered humbly and devoutly; behavior inside should be calm, pleasing to God, bringing peace to the beholders, a source not only of instruction but of mental refreshment….

Entering the Church

· As a pilgrim, unless you plan to attend mass, avoid entry into the churches while mass is being celebrated.

· When you enter the Church, Catholics commonly cross themselves with Holy Water and thank God for the grace given at Baptism.

· Genuflect or reverently bow before taking a seat in a pew for prayer or reflection.

· When approaching the front altar of the church it is the belief of Catholics that Christ is present in the tabernacle, therefore, respect the sanctuary as the holiest area of the church.

Quiet

· Silence or turn off Cell Phones/Pagers while in the church.

· Keep sacred silence in the church. Avoid unnecessary conversation and keep necessary conversation to a low whisper.

· Greet others outside or in the Narthex, not in the church itself.

• Be aware if confessions are being heard, to be particularly quiet in church at that time. When someone is in the Confessional, keep a very wide berth of it. This helps signal to others that the Confessional is a very safe, private place that all Catholics understand needs to be respected as such.
• Also be aware of the practice of Adoration when the Body of Christ is placed in a decorative monstance upon the altar for the parishioners to pray before. Sacred silence is a must and movement around or near the alter is to be avoided. This is sometimes a First Friday of the month practice.

Attire

· Cyclists should remove cycling shoes that have any metal clips, particularly in churches with hardwood floors. Entering the church barefoot or in stocking feet is acceptable.

· Men and women should remove helmets. Women may wear head coverings hats, veils or bandannas.

· Modest dress is the norm, but as pilgrim visitors on bikes, allowances are made during non-liturgical times for dress of bike pilgrims in bike shorts and jerseys.

Food and Water, Kids & Departure

· Do not chew gum or bring food or drinks into the church. The only exceptions are discreetly breastfeeding or giving a bottle to an infant (or, of course, rare medical emergencies such as giving water to a person reviving from having fainted, etc.

· Children sometimes can't help making a bit of noise, but if your child is out of control, or disruptive enough to distract people or makes it hard for others to hear or contemplate, take him to the Narthex, the "Cry Room," or outside. Remember, too, that an acceptable level of noise to you as a parent might be one thing because you are so used to hearing your children that you take their sounds for granted; others might find that same noise very distracting.

· When it is time to leave you may bow or genuflect once again toward the Tabernacle at the front altar. Some Catholics also again sign themselves with Holy Water when leaving the Church (a perfectly fine, pious custom, but one which isn't related to the historically-rooted purposes of blessing oneself upon entering the church).